Daisuke Katō

Daisuke Katō
was a Japanese actor. He appeared in over 200 films, including Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, Rashomon, Yojimbo, and Ikiru. He also worked repeatedly for noted directors such as Yasujirō Ozu, Mikio Naruse and Kenji Mizoguchi.
Career
Born as Tokunosuke Katō to a theatrical family, his older brother was the actor Kunitarō Sawamura and his older sister the actress Sadako Sawamura. He joined the Zenshinza Theatre Company in 1933 and appeared in a number of stage and film productions under the stage name Enji Ichikawa, including Sadao Yamanaka's Humanity and Paper Balloons and Kenji Mizoguchi's The 47 Ronin. After spending the war in New Guinea, he returned to Japan and signed with the Daiei Film studio, appearing now under the name Daisuke Katō.
In addition to appearing in traditional jidaigeki roles, notably as one of Kurosawa's Seven Samurai, Katō became a popular everyman in contemporary shōshimin-eiga movies. His transfer to Toho in 1951 was an astute career choice, as he emerged as one of their most prolific performers; by the late 1950's he was headlining minor films and co-starring in major ones, including their Company President (Shachō) comedies. Toho leveraged Katō's cherubic appeal, featuring him heavily in promotional materials, and his celebrity grew beyond the typical status of a supporting player.
His 1961 book about his wartime experiences, Minami no shima ni yuki ga furu (Snow in the South Seas), was adapted by Toho as a showcase for Katō, who was top-billed, paired with major studio comic actor Junzaburō Ban (who received the only other solo screen credit), and supported with guest appearances by A-list Toho stars Hisaya Morishige, Tatsuya Mihashi, Keiju Kobayashi, and Frankie Sakai. The book later became an NHK television drama, a stage play, and a second film.
Honors
Daisuke Katō won the Blue Ribbon Award and Mainichi Film Concours for Best Supporting Actor in 1952 for Kettō Kagiya no Tsuji and Mother, and the Blue Ribbon Award in 1954 for Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji and Koko ni izumi ari.
On June 7, 1963, Katō was the subject of the Asahi Shimbun Interview, a distinction reserved for notable members of the arts, sports, political, and business communities.
In 2008, Katō was one of the actors commemorated in the Seven Supporting Characters film festival held at the now-defunct Cinema Artone in Tokyo's Shimokitazawa entertainment district.
Family
Kato's nephews are the actors Masahiko Tsugawa and Hiroyuki Nagato. His son, Haruyuki Katō, married Kazuko Kurosawa, the costume designer and daughter of Akira Kurosawa. His grandson by Harayuki and Kazuko is actor Takayuki Kato.
Selected filmography
Kōchiyama Sōshun (河内山宗俊) (1936) - Kenta
Humanity and Paper Balloons (人情紙風船 Ninjō kami fūsen) (1937) - Isuke - Yatagoro henchman
Abe ichizoku (1938)
The 47 Ronin (元禄忠臣蔵 Genroku chushingura) (1941) - Fuwa Kazuemon (uncredited)
Bosu (1949)
Bangaku Edo e yuku (1949)
Saheiji torimonohikae: Murasaki zukin (1949) - Yasu
Saheiji torimonohikae: Murasaki zukin - Kaiketsu-hen (1949) - Yasu
Shinshaku Yotsuya kaidan: kōhen (1949) - Shinkichi
Onna koroshi abura jigoku (1949)
Tengu hikyaku (1949)
Nippon G Men: Dai-ni-wa - Nansenzaki no kettō (1950)
Ore wa yojinbo (1950)
Harukanari haha no kuni (1950) - Tommy Shōkyokusai
Rashomon (羅生門 Rashōmon) (1950) - Policeman
Akagi Kara kita otoko (1950)
Gorotsuki-bune (1950) - Sōkichi
Oboro kago (1951)
Tsuki no wataridori (1951) - Matagorō
Jiyū gakkō (1951) - Takayama
Joshu Garasu (1951)
Mesu inu (1951) - Matoba
Vendetta for a Samurai (1952) - Rokusuke
The Life of Oharu (1952) - Tasaburo Hishiya
Zoku Shurajō hibun - Hiun no maki (1952) - Inosuke
Mother (おかあさん Okāsan) (1952) - Uncle Kimura
Yonjū-hachinin me no otoko (1952)
Shanhai no onna (1952) - Liu, Ding's men
Ikiru (1952) - Yakuza
Ashi ni sawatta onna (1952)
Fuun senryobune (1952)
Jinsei gekijo: dai ichi bu/dai ni bu (1952)
Edokko hangan (1953)
Pu-san (1953)
Yasugorō shusse (1953)
Aoiro kakumei (1953) - Takegoro Inugai
Jirochō sangokushi: hatsu iwai Shimizu Minato (1953)
Kaiketsu Murasaki-zukin: Sōshūban (1953)
Jirochō sangokushi: seizoroi Shimizu Minato (1953)
Yonin no haha (1954)
Seven Samurai (七人の侍 Shichinin no Samurai) (1954) - Shichirōji
Shiosai (1954) - Chiyoko's Father, the lighthouse keeper
Watashi no subete o (1954)
Late Chrysanthemums (1954) - Itaya
Toran būran: Tsuki no hikari (1954) - Private Sasaki
Dorodarake no seishun (1954) - Miyamori, publicity manager
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto (1954) - Toji
Tarao bannai hayabusa no maō (1955)
Floating Clouds (1955) - Seikichi Mukai
Koko ni izumi ari (1955)
Bloody Spear at Mount Fuji (血槍富士 Chiyari Fuji) (1955) - Genta
No Time for Tears (1955) - Magazine reporter
Tōjūrō no Koi (藤十郎の恋) (1955) - Kichisuke
Tasogare sakaba (1955) - Kibe
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple (続宮本武蔵 一乗寺の決闘 Zoku Miyamoto Musashi: Ichijōji no kettō) (1955) - Tōji Gion
The Lone Journey (旅路 Tabiji) aka The Road (1955)
Mune yori mune ni (1955) - Hazama
Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island (1956) - Toji Gion
Sudden Rain (1956) - Kawakami
Early Spring (1956) - Sakamoto
Izumi (1956)
Kengō nitōryū (1956) - Kamo Jinnai
Street of Shame (赤線地帯 Akasen chitai) (1956) - president of Brothel Owners' Association
Tsuma no kokoro (1956)
Shiroi magyo (1956)
Gendai no yokubō (1956) - Inoue
Onibi (1956)
Ani to sono musume (1956) - Hayashi
Arashi (1956) - Ishii
Gogo 8 ji 13 pun (1956) - Keisaku Yatabe
Flowing (1956) - Yoneko's ex
Itohan monogatari (1957) - Matsukichi
Ôban (1957) - Ushinosuke Akaba
Wasureji no gogo 8 ji 13 pun (1957) - Police Detective Yatabe
Snow Country (1957)
Untamed (1957) - Her second husband
Salaryman shusse taikōki (1957) - Hajime Sōda
Zoku Ôban: Fūun hen (1957) - Ushinosuke Akaba
Ippon-gatana dohyō iri (1957) - Mohei Komagata
Zoku sarariman shussetai kōki (1957)
Zokuzoku Ôban: Dotō hen (1957) - Ushinotsuke Akabane
Shachō sandaiki (1958)
Futari dake no hashi (1958) - Takeshi Saitō
Zoku shachō sandaiki (1958)
A Holiday in Tokyo (1958) - Sales Manager
Yajikata dōchū sugoroku (1958) - Yajirobei Tochimen'ya
Anzukko (1958) - Suga
Oban kanketsu hen (1958)
Shu to midori (1958)
Summer Clouds (1958)
Zokuzoku sarariman shussetai kōki (1958)
Wakai musumetachi (1958) - Zenkichi Shibata - Sumiko's father
Kami no taisho (1958)
Hadaka no taishō (1958) - Master of Restaurant
Yajikita dōchū sugoroku (1958) - Yajirobei Tochimen'ya
Shachō taiheiki (1959) - Gōnosuke Asahina
Zoku shachō taiheiki (1959)
Kitsune to tanuki (1959)
Sarariman shussetai koki daiyonbu (1959) - Hajime
Daigaku no nijuhachin (1959)
Moro no Ichimatsu yūrei dochu (1959)
Shin santō jūyaku (1959) - Kumehei Onizuka
Uwayaku, shitayaku, godōyaku (1959)
Wakai koibitotachi (1959) - Renzō Dōjima
The Three Treasures (1959) - God Fudetama
Osorubeki hiasobi (1959)
Yari hitosuji nihon bare (1959) - Genshin Tawaraboshi
Watashi wa kai ni naritai (1959)
Kiri aru jyoji (1959)
Shiranami gonin otoko: tenka no ō-dorobō (1960)
Shin santō jūyaku: Tabi to onna to sake no maki (1960)
Yama no kanata ni - Dai ichi-bu: Ringo no hoo: Dai ni-bu: Sakana no seppun (1960) - Yakichi Wada
Hito mo arukeba (1960) - Namigoro Namiki
Sarariman shussetai kōki daigobu (1960) - Hajime
Kunisada Chūji (1960) - Enzo Niko
Hawai Middowei daikaikūsen: Taiheiyō no arashi (1960)
Shin santō jūyaku: Ataru mo hakke no maki (1960) - Uchū Takeda
Musume tsuma haha (1960) - Shusuke Tetsumoto
Taiyō o dake (1960) - Kyōsuke Tsumura
Shin santo juyaku: teishu kyo iku no maki (1960)
Shin jōdaigaku (1960)
Gametsui yatsu (1960)
Aki tachinu (1960) - Tomioka - The Lover
Kane-dukuri taikō-ki (1960) - Hirayama, Shūhei
When a Woman Ascends the Stairs (1960) - Matsukichi Sekine
Jiyūgaoka fujin (1960)
Zoku sararîman Chūshingura (1961) - Jyusaburo Onodera
Yojimbo (用心棒 Yōjinbō) (1961) - Inokichi - Ushitora's Rotund Brother
Zoku shachō dochuki: onna oyabun taiketsu no maki (1961)
Shachō dōchūki (1961)
Honkon no yoru (1961)
The End of Summer (1961) - Kitagawa Yanosuke
Ganba (1961)
Kigeki ekimae bentō (1961)
Salary man Shimizu minato (1962) - Ômasa
Onna no za (1962) - Tamura Ryokichi, Matsuyo no otto
Zoku sararîman shimizu minato (1962)
Ika naru hoshi no moto ni (1962) - Sōtarō
Shachō yōkōki (1962)
Zoku shachō yōkōki (1962)
Ottamage ningyo monogatari (1962) - Heiroku Tsubaki
Star of Hong Kong (1962) - Shūhei
Shin kitsune to tanuki (1962)
Hōrō-ki (1962) - Nobuo Sadaoka
Chūshingura (1962) - Kichiemon Terasaka
An Autumn Afternoon (1962) - Yoshitarō Sakamoto
Kawa no hotori de (1962) - Kenkichi Takayama
Kigeki: Detatoko shōbu - 'Chinjarara monogatari' yori (1962) - Nishiyama
Shachō manyūki (1963)
Onna ni tsuyoku naru kufū no kazukazu (1963) - Daizō Sugishita
Zoku shachō manyūki (1963)
Shachō gaiyūki (1963)
Kureji sakusen: Sentehisshō (1963)
Kigeki: Tonkatsu ichidai (1963) - Denji Tamaki
Minami no shima ni yuki ga furu (1963)
Zoku shachō gaiyūki (1963)
Kigeki ekimae chagama (1963)
Miren (1963) - Master at 'Sekine'
Onna no rekishi (1963)
Warera sarariman (1963)
Shachō shinshiroku (1964)
Kigeki ekimae okami (1964) - Rikizō Kawaguchi
Zoku shachō shinshiroku (1964)
Ore wa bodigado (1964)
Samé (1964) - Genji
Hadaka no jūyaku (1964) - Tadokori - Executive
Nippon paradaisu (1964) - Daiten Kuramoto
Kuro no chōtokkyu (1964) - Nakae
Danchi: Nanatsu no taizai (1964) - Ichirō Mitani
Shachō ninpōchō (1965)
Zoku shachō ninpōchō (1965) - Tyuzo Togashi
Hi no ataru isu (1965) - Natsuki Shibusawa
Radishes and Carrots (1965) - Bit Part
Sanshiro Sugata (1965) - Hansuke Murai
Senjo ni nagareru uta (1965) - Yamamoto
Aku no kaidan (1965) - Konishi
Shachō gyōjōki (1966)
Abare Gōemon (1966) - Budeuemon Hattori
The Stranger Within a Woman (1966)
Zoku shachō gyōjōki (1966) - Tyuzo Togashi
Hikinige (1966) - Kawashima
Nakano Spy School (1966) - Lieutenant Kusanagi
Rikugun Nakano gakko: Kumoichigō shirei (1966) - Kusanagi
The Daphne (1966) - Shimada
Akogare (1966)
Shachō senichiya (1967)
Rikugun Nakano gakko: Ryu-sango shirei (1967)
Mesu ga osu o kuikorosu: Kamakiri (1967) - Gunpei Otaguro
Zoku izuko e (1967)
Zoku namonaku mazushiku utsukushiku: Haha to ko (1967) - Taro
Chichi to ko: Zoku Na mo naku mazushiku utsukushiku (1967) - Shintaro Sakai
Zoku shachō senichiya (1967)
Rikugun Nakano gakko: Mitsumei (1967)
Japan's Longest Day (1967) - Kenjiro Yabe - NHK Domestic Bureau Director
Kigeki: Ippatsu shōbu (1967) - Tadashi Ninomiya
Scattered Clouds (1967) - Hayashida
Nise keiji (1967)
Shachō hanjōki (1968)
Zoku shacho hanjōki (1968)
Rikugun Nakano gakkō: Kaisen zen'ya (1968)
Bakuchi-uchi: Nagurikomi (1968) - Kichigorō
Niji no naka no remon (1968) - Gōzō Maeda
Rengō kantai shirei chōkan: Yamamoto Isoroku (1968) - Chief of Press Section
Kōdōkan hamonjō (1968) - Junpei Sekine
Shachō enmachō (1969)
Zoku shachō enmachō (1969)
Shachō gaku ABC (1970)
Zoku shachō gaku ABC (1970)
Futari dake no asa (1971)
Showa hito keta shachō tai futaketa shain (1971)
Zoku Showa hito keta shachō tai futaketa shain: Getsu-getsu kasui moku kinkin (1971)
Hajimete no tabi (1972)
Tokyo do mannaka (1974)
References
External links
1911 births
1975 deaths
Male actors from Tokyo
People from Taitō
Japanese male film actors
20th-century Japanese male actors
Japanese male stage actors